The Ultimate Celestial Martial Emperor: An Isekai Cultivation Progression Fantasy Novel: The Ultimate Celestial Martial Emperor, #4

By De Yun Piao Dang

Jiang Yuan, an ordinary person from Earth, finds himself transported to another world, becoming a different Jiang Yuan in a realm filled with mystery and fantasy. In this world, individuals can cultivate their abilities to perform feats as miraculous as turning rivers and capturing the stars. However, Jiang Yuan's existence in this new world is far from stable. He inherits the identity and a series of troubles and challenges of his predecessor.

In the beginning, Jiang Yuan only wants to fully enjoy his new life, but fate doesn't afford him much respite. By a stroke of luck, he acquires a mysterious wooden carving, which seems to conceal the deep secrets of this world...

If I stand with humanity, then humanity shall flourish for hundreds of generations without end!

If I enter the path of demons, demonic flames will surge, and oceans of blood will flow!

As a sage, I shall help all beings, offering salvation to the world!

As an emperor, I shall be revered, with all directions submitting to me alone!

As an enlightened one, I shall follow in the footsteps of the sages before me, singing a war song of a prosperous yet melancholic era, shedding blood on the path to immortality!
 

 

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Everyone's hearts sank. What did the Blood Sun Heavenly God mean? What was so strange about this Life and Death Platform? The name alone made it sound like nothing good. "Life and Death," it implied a battle where one party would die.

 They didn't think the chances of anyone surviving after taking a turn were very high. They wondered if even a single person would manage to walk away from this alive.

 Despite their pale faces, no one dared to speak up. Jiang Yuan, sitting there and listening to the Blood Sun Heavenly God, gazed at the Yin-Yang shaped Life and Death Platform, his eyes flickering with inscrutable thoughts.

• Language: English
• Publisher: He Qiao Qiao
• Release date: Apr 12, 2024
• ISBN: 9798224228454

Book preview

Chapter 121: A Battle to the Death

Everyone’s hearts sank. What did the Blood Sun Heavenly God mean? What was so strange about this Life and Death Platform? The name alone made it sound like nothing good. Life and Death, it implied a battle where one party would die.

They didn’t think the chances of anyone surviving after taking a turn were very high. They wondered if even a single person would manage to walk away from this alive.

Despite their pale faces, no one dared to speak up. Jiang Yuan, sitting there and listening to the Blood Sun Heavenly God, gazed at the Yin-Yang shaped Life and Death Platform, his eyes flickering with inscrutable thoughts.

The Blood Sun Heavenly God observed everyone’s reactions with a hint of disdain. His expression was akin to that of a cat toying with a mouse.

That’s right, it was just a game. For someone as strong as the Blood Sun Heavenly God, even divinities like Howling Moon Divine Wolf were nothing to him, let alone the lives of everyone present. Treating life and death like a game—what else could it be but a game?

Jiang Yuan noticed the expression in the Blood Sun Heavenly God’s eyes and his face darkened.

The Blood Sun Heavenly God made no attempt to hide his disdain. It was like a cat playing with a mouse, and Jiang Yuan wasn’t the only one who saw it. At least a few others present must have witnessed the Blood Sun Heavenly God’s expression.

Those who dared to observe the Blood Sun Heavenly God on the sly were naturally quite courageous, but despite their courage, even after seeing the Blood Sun Heavenly God’s playful look, none of them had the audacity to speak up.

A glint flashed in Jiang Yuan’s eyes as he suddenly spoke to the Blood Sun Heavenly God, Senior Blood Sun Heavenly God, I have a question that puzzles me. Could you enlighten me, Senior?

The Blood Sun Heavenly God looked at Jiang Yuan with interest. A faint smile appeared on his lips. Amidst the anxious gazes from the others, the Blood Sun Heavenly God laughed heartily and said, Boy, go ahead and ask.

Jiang Yuan took a deep breath and said, I’m just curious. Are the thousands of coffins along the Tomb Path filled with those who failed to walk out of the Life and Death Platform?

For some unknown reason, Jiang Yuan’s words brought to mind the countless coffins they had seen on their way there.

Although they had noticed the coffins at the time, they had merely found them somewhat eerie and grim. But for people who were accustomed to life and death, death held no fear, and mere coffins would not disturb them.

Now, Jiang Yuan’s words sent shivers down their spines. Everyone’s eyes involuntarily fell upon the Blood Sun Heavenly God. Even those who had immense reverence for the Blood Sun Heavenly God found their courage bolstered at the thought of their own lives being at stake, allowing them to gaze directly at him.

Under the collective gaze, the Blood Sun Heavenly God nodded slightly and said, Out of all of you, only you, boy, had the guts to break open those coffins. I imagine you noticed what was inside them. You are correct. If any of you fail to walk out of the Life and Death Platform, death awaits you. Along the Tomb Path, there are plenty of coffins waiting for you.

Many people turned deathly pale. Their legs trembled, and had they not been sitting, some might have collapsed right there.

Who wouldn’t be scared? The thought of failing to walk out of the Life and Death Platform and ending up lifeless inside one of those coffins filled them with unspeakable dread.

Jiang Yuan sighed and said, In that case, Senior, could you please enlighten us? What are the rules of this Life and Death Platform, and what does it take to walk out alive?

Like drowning men clutching at straws, everyone fixed their eyes on the Blood Sun Heavenly God.

The Blood Sun Heavenly God said, It’s very simple. I myself will enter the Life and Death Platform and fight you. If any of you can defeat me, you can walk out of the Life and Death Platform alive.

Before the Blood Sun Heavenly God could finish speaking, many gasped in horror. Some even rolled their eyes and fainted on the spot.

How could this be possible? The Blood Sun Heavenly God was a Heavenly God of the Zhou Heavenly Realm. Even if he stood there motionless and allowed them to attack him, there was no guarantee that anyone present could harm him.

As for defeating the Blood Sun Heavenly God, it was simply wishful thinking. Unable to withstand such a blow, some fainted on the spot.

Jiang Yuan also looked at the Blood Sun Heavenly God in a daze. Shameless—this was too shameless! The mighty Blood Sun Heavenly God was actually going to personally take action against them. Didn’t this mean that the Life and Death Platform was obviously a death trap?

If that was the case, why even call it the Life and Death Platform? It should be renamed the Death Platform.

But might makes right. The Blood Sun Heavenly God was the strongest here, so his words were the rules, the truth. Who would dare to refute him?

Gritting his teeth, Jiang Yuan said, Senior, if that’s the case, then I suggest we change the name of the Life and Death Platform to the Death Platform. Removing the word ‘life’ would make more sense.

His words were filled with sarcasm and mockery. Those present who were still conscious were surprised by Jiang Yuan’s boldness. He even dared to openly mock the Blood Sun Heavenly God. Having been provoked by the Blood Sun Heavenly God earlier, they found Jiang Yuan’s words incredibly refreshing and looked at him with admiration.

Jiang Yuan’s strength might be the weakest among them, but there was no denying that his courage was the greatest.

Even the Blood Sun Heavenly God couldn’t help but give Jiang Yuan a few more glances. Jiang Yuan looked back at the Blood Sun Heavenly God with equal defiance. After all, he had nothing to lose. According to the Blood Sun Heavenly God, they were all going to die anyway.

Since the worst possible outcome was already set in stone, what was there to fear? Otherwise, Jiang Yuan wouldn’t have dared to provoke the Blood Sun Heavenly God.

The Blood Sun Heavenly God glanced at everyone and said, Since I call it the Life and Death Platform, there must be a glimmer of hope. Although I will personally take action, I will only fight you at a level one realm higher than your cultivation. In other words, as long as you can defeat me in that state, you can live.

These words brought looks of joy to many faces. Although the Blood Sun Heavenly God was one realm higher than them, it still gave them a glimmer of hope, which was better than none at all.

However, Jiang Yuan sneered inwardly. This Blood Sun Heavenly God was truly cunning. First, he crushed their hopes, and then he deliberately left them with a sliver of hope. Why didn’t they stop and think for a moment? Was that glimmer of hope really hope?

At least in Jiang Yuan’s eyes, it wasn’t. The Blood Sun Heavenly God was a mighty Heavenly God. His cultivation realm was unmatched by anyone present. Even if he restricted his power to fight them at the same level, there was probably no one here who could be his match, let alone if he were to fight them at a level one realm higher.

After their initial surprise, some people came to their senses and looked at the Blood Sun Heavenly God with despair and fear in their eyes.

Blood Sun Heavenly God, since you’re not giving us a way out, I’ll fight you to the death!

Finally, a cultivator saw through the Blood Sun Heavenly God’s scheme. He knew that even if he entered the Life and Death Platform, he would definitely not be the Blood Sun Heavenly God’s match. In his despair, he was filled with a desire to fight to the death.

He was an Immortal of the Peak of the Leakless Realm. Judging by his age, he was no more than a hundred years old. If he had the chance, he might not have been unable to become a Divine Being in the future. It was a pity that he had fallen into this trap. Now, like a moth drawn to a flame, he charged towards the Blood Sun Heavenly God.

The Blood Sun Heavenly God seemed utterly indifferent to the cultivator’s counterattack, displaying an attitude that everything was under his control, which inevitably bred a sense of despair.

With a punch from the air that landed squarely on the charging Immortal, a cloud of blood mist exploded, and an Immortal at the Peak of the Leakless Realm was thus reduced to a cloud of blood.

The blood mist spread, filling the altar with a scent of blood. Soon, the eight-trigram-shaped Life and Death Platform began to flicker with a faint red light. The blood mist in the air seemed to be drawn to it, converging towards the platform before finally disappearing into it.

This eerie scene filled the onlookers with even greater terror as they stared at the eight-trigram-shaped stone platform.

Regardless of the crowd’s emotions, the Blood Sun Heavenly God slowly stood up, descended from his throne, and entered the eight-trigram-shaped Life and Death Platform. His gaze fell upon the three Divine Beings: the Howling Moon God Wolf, the Waning Moon Immortal, and the Qingxi Bull God. The Blood Sun Heavenly God then declared, Let’s start with the three of you.

The Howling Moon God Wolf, the Waning Moon Immortal, and the Qingxi Bull God exchanged looks, their eyes communicating as they weighed whether to rely on their vast experience to take a chance on the Life and Death Platform or to directly confront the Blood Sun Heavenly God.

However, the Blood Sun Heavenly God paid no mind to their silent exchange, merely watching with indifference, as if giving them the opportunity to make their choice.

Suddenly, the Howling Moon God Wolf gritted his teeth and said, Both of you, give me an answer. Are we going to take our chances or fight to the death?

The Waning Moon Immortal’s expression was extremely grim, torn with indecision, while the Qingxi Bull God said through clenched teeth, You both have only a few years left in your lifespans. Even if you die fighting, there’s nothing to regret. But I have just entered the prime of my life. I’m not willing to throw it away in a desperate fight.

Hearing the Qingxi Bull God’s words, the Waning Moon Immortal sighed softly. If the three of them could work together, they might stand a chance against the Blood Sun Heavenly God. Even if there was no hope, it would still be better than facing the Life and Death Platform.

Chapter 122: The Many Facets of Human Nature

Unfortunately, the Qingxi Bull God lacked the determination to fight to the death. If he and the Howling Moon God Wolf were to fight head-on, they would have no chance of survival.

The Howling Moon God Wolf laughed heartily, his laughter tinged with a sense of desolation. He took a step forward towards the Life and Death Platform, saying, I have lived for over a thousand years, enjoying and experiencing everything. Even if I die today, there is nothing to regret. Qingxi Bull God, you will regret your shortsightedness!

With those words, the Howling Moon God Wolf charged into the Life and Death Platform. A powerful aura erupted from his body, his vitality surging as he unleashed his full potential from the very beginning. At this moment, the Howling Moon God Wolf’s strength had undoubtedly reached the peak of the Primordial Spirit Realm.

The Blood Sun Heavenly God nodded in satisfaction at the Howling Moon God Wolf’s reaction. Very good. I will use the strength of the early Zhou Heavenly Realm to fight you. As long as you can defeat me, you can live.

Without a word, the Howling Moon God Wolf let out a roar. A gigantic black wolf with a glossy coat and a gaping maw lunged at the Blood Sun Heavenly God.

The Howling Moon God Wolf’s true form allowed him to unleash even greater power. The very posture with which he pounced carried an ancient and primal air. It was clear that this was not a simple leap but an exquisite pouncing technique.

However, the Blood Sun Heavenly God remained utterly calm in the face of the Howling Moon God Wolf’s assault, as if the attack that had gathered all of the wolf’s energy and spirit was nothing to him.

If the Blood Sun Heavenly God were truly fighting the Howling Moon God Wolf with only one realm’s difference in cultivation, as he had claimed, he would not be so composed in the face of such a blow. After all, this was arguably the Howling Moon God Wolf’s most powerful attack. If it failed, he would likely be unable to unleash another one like it.

Is that all you’ve got? How boring, utterly boring!

The Blood Sun Heavenly God sighed lightly, clearly not taking the Howling Moon God Wolf’s attack to heart, and slowly reached out his hand to smack down on the approaching wolf.

In the eyes of the Howling Moon God Wolf, the Heavenly God’s hand seemed like a vast net from the heavens, sealing off all possible escape routes. He could only watch as he dashed into the net.

A surge of excruciating pain overwhelmed him, and the Howling Moon God Wolf couldn’t help but let out a miserable and agonizing howl, collapsing to the ground with a thud.

The Howling Moon God Wolf felt a terrifying force invade his body, shredding everything inside, including his internal organs, turning them into mush. However, it was evident that the Blood Sun Heavenly God had exquisitely controlled the power of his blow; everything beneath the skin, from the organs to the flesh, was pulverized, yet from the outside, apart from some blood trickling from the corner of his mouth, the Howling Moon God Wolf appeared unharmed.

Every part of his body, from his flesh to his bones, was shattered. Lying on the ground, the Howling Moon God Wolf could only move his eyes, completely unable to stir.

Being at the Primordial Spirit Realm, the Howling Moon God Wolf couldn’t even forsake his physical body to escape with his Primordial Spirit. Only gods at the Indestructible Realm can exist in the form of a Primordial Spirit without a body. Even the current Blood Sun Heavenly God couldn’t live without his physical form.

Within the three major realms of the Primordial Spirit, the Primordial Spirit Realm is where one can condense a Primordial Spirit and wield its power. At the Zhou Heavenly Realm, the Primordial Spirit can temporarily leave the body, allowing short travels around the world, which are capabilities of a Heavenly God at the Zhou Heavenly Realm. As for the Indestructible Realm, as the name suggests, it denotes the eternal existence of the Primordial Spirit, free from the physical body. Even if, like the current Howling Moon God Wolf, the physical body is nearly destroyed, one can easily escape with the Primordial Spirit and find another body to inhabit after some effort.

The Howling Moon God Wolf did not possess the cultivation of the Indestructible Realm. Being merely at the Primordial Spirit Realm meant he had only condensed a Primordial Spirit. Now, with his physical body destroyed, the Primordial Spirit, still dependent on the body, suffered severe damage. Looking up at the Blood Sun Heavenly God, who gazed down on him with disdain, the Howling Moon God Wolf felt an immense bitterness.

His full-powered strike couldn’t even withstand one hit from the Blood Sun Heavenly God, whose casual strike contained profound mysteries. The Howling Moon God Wolf couldn’t fathom how the Blood Sun Heavenly God had cultivated to such a level, mastering the use of power and techniques to a transcendental and masterful realm.

In the eyes of the Howling Moon God Wolf, even if gods from the Indestructible Realm were to compare their techniques or control of power, they might not surpass the Blood Sun Heavenly God.

Everyone silently observed the Howling Moon God Wolf lying on the altar, many still unable to process the turn of events. With just one strike, the Howling Moon God Wolf was utterly defeated, shattering the illusions of many onlookers.

A black bird leaned in close to Jiang Yuan and whispered, Quack quack, it’s really unbelievable. The Blood Sun Heavenly God’s mastery over power has reached a terrifying level. I’m afraid that among those of the same realm present, hardly anyone could be his match in a fight.

Jiang Yuan’s expression was grave. He was well aware of this fact and felt even more apprehensive about the terrifying prowess of the Blood Sun Heavenly God.

Having immense power might not be frightening, but possessing the ability to control and utilize that power perfectly is truly terrifying.

Jiang Yuan even suspected that with the Blood Sun Heavenly God’s skilled application of power, almost approaching the Dao, he might stand a chance against even stronger gods of the Indestructible Realm.

Corpse Preserving Coffin, come!

Then, a dark, ominously chilling coffin flew through the air, landing with a clang next to the Howling Moon God Wolf.

The sight of the dark coffin sent shivers down the spines of the dozens of people around, their faces filled with fear as they recalled the coffins they had seen on their way here.

With a gesture, the dying Howling Moon God Wolf was casually tossed into the coffin by the Blood Sun Heavenly God, as if discarding a small chick. From the Blood Sun Heavenly God’s demeanor, it was clear that killing a deity was for him an utterly mundane task.

As the coffin closed, the Eight Trigrams Life and Death Platform emitted a blood-red light that enveloped the coffin.

Drip, drip. The surroundings were dead silent, making the dripping sound all the more distinct and piercing.

Crimson drops of blood essence flowed out from the coffin and into the Eight Trigrams Life and Death Platform. Witnessing this scene, Jiang Yuan felt as if an invisible hand had seized him tightly. He finally understood why the bodies in the coffin were all mummies—their blood and flesh essence had been completely absorbed by the Life and Death Platform.

Immortal Lingji had also personally witnessed the mummies in the coffin, so seeing the sight before him, he naturally understood everything.

His entire body trembling, Immortal Lingji was innately terrified of death, and this realization had drawn it out of him.

Jiang Yuan could only shake his head and smile wryly at Immortal Lingji’s pitiful state.

There had been some movement in the coffin at the beginning, but it gradually fell silent. With a sigh, Jiang Yuan saw the Blood Sun Heavenly God wave a hand, and an invisible force sent the coffin containing the Howling Moon God Wolf away. A loud boom echoed in the distance—the Howling Moon God Wolf’s coffin had landed, becoming one among many.

Withered Moon Deity, Qingxi Bull God, which of you two will be next!

At this moment, the Qingxi Bull God’s face was pale as he looked at the Blood Sun Heavenly God with terror. Any trace of pride he had earlier had long since vanished, and he muttered, Why is this happening? Why?

He had originally intended to use the Howling Moon God Wolf to test the depths of the Blood Sun Heavenly God. However, he had never expected the Howling Moon God Wolf to be utterly crushed by the Blood Sun Heavenly God’s single strike. This made the Qingxi Bull God clearly realize how laughable his previous calculations had been.

But now, no matter how much he regretted it, it was too late. Perhaps if the three of them had joined forces earlier, they might have had a chance. Now, however, there was not even a glimmer of hope.

The Withered Moon Deity now resembled a sage who had seen through the cycle of life and death, his expression serene as he stepped onto the Life and Death Platform.

Just like the Howling Moon God Wolf, the Withered Moon Deity unleashed the final brilliant attack of his life, but he too was defeated with a single move, and another coffin landed among the many others.

The Qingxi Bull God completely collapsed. When he saw the Blood Sun Heavenly God looking at him, he roared like a madman, No, I don’t want to play any more games. Let me go! I still have a wonderful life and youth ahead of me.

Watching the Qingxi Bull God flee frantically, the Blood Sun Heavenly God sneered and said, You don’t have to participate in the game either. I happen to want to refine a Golden Armored Resentful Spirit Guard, and you, Qingxi Bull God, would be a perfect specimen.

Jiang Yuan gasped. Could it be that the black-armored Resentful Spirit Guards they had encountered earlier had all come to be in this way?

With a casual grab in the void, the Qingxi Bull God was effortlessly suppressed by the Blood Sun Heavenly God. He could only await endless torment and madness, ultimately transforming into a neither-human-nor-ghost Golden Armored Resentful Spirit Guard. He might as well have just died, spared the endless pain and suffering.

Clapping his hands, the Blood Sun Heavenly God laughed heartily. Everyone, the game continues. Who will be next?

No one could escape; it was merely a matter of sooner or later. These Immortals immediately displayed their ugly side. Even if they could live a little longer, it was better than nothing, so as soon as the Blood Sun Heavenly God finished speaking, the Immortals started pushing and shoving each other, none of them willing to step forward to their deaths.

With a cold snort, the Blood Sun Heavenly God casually grabbed one of the Immortals and threw him onto the Eight Trigrams Life and Death Platform. Begin, the Blood Sun Heavenly God commanded.

It had to be said that the Blood Sun Heavenly God was truly despair-inducingly powerful. Even while suppressing his cultivation to the Immortal realm, every move he made was terrifying. Moreover, after seeing the secret techniques his opponents used, the Blood Sun Heavenly God could execute them himself, and with even greater power.

Chapter 123: Ascending the